Philadelphia

Soda Tax Battle Bubbles Up in Front of Philadelphia City Council

City Council held a hearing Wednesday on the controversial "soda tax."

The Council heard testimony on Mayor Jim Kenney's proposed sugary-beverage tax, aka "soda tax," which would be used to help fund educational initiatives, rehab recreation centers and better-equip police and fire departments, according to Kenney.

Earlier, Kenney told city council that the soda tax would provide $400 million to be split among several initiatives. 

The soda tax is part of Kenney's proposed $4.17-billion spending plan, which exceeds last year's budget by $100 million. It is now in the hands of the city council, which has opposed similar sugary drinks taxes twice before under Kenney's predecessor Michael Nutter.

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